We were fortunate enough to catch up with musician ARI JOSHUA following the superb release ‘Soulmine’. Read our in-depth interview now!
Hi Ari, what is your earliest music memory?
My grandmother ‘Granny Queenie’ had a record player at her house. She told me my first word was ‘Mimic’. I was trying to say music. I would point to her record player when I ran into her 3rd-floor apartment in ‘Bordeaux’ in Seapoint. My uncles bought me two presents that year. One was a fisher price record player, which I still have sitting at my music school, and the other was a teddy bear chair, also still at the school.
How did you get into the music industry?
I was really rebellious and emotional as a kid. Music kept me off drugs and off the street. I got good grades. I could have been anything I wanted to. I wanted to make music cause I wanted to connect to the source and to make people feel good the way the music made me feel good. I got a scholarship to The New School in NYC. It also changed my life.
Who influenced your brilliant latest release, ‘Soulmine’?
The players on the record directly. I have always LOVED organ jazz. Jimmy Smith, Jack Mcduff, all that. I have played with Delvon for years and always wanted to play more with him. He was on a break between tours and was able to fit this in. Skerik I have been listening to Skerik since the 90s.
My first guitar teacher was in his band SadHappy. The way he plays influenced what I wrote for the record. Grant as well, he is in a popular cinematic funk band. I put it all together, and it just happened.
https://open.spotify.com/track/0C5cMnVFPyZwpc20oSMeLL
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Well, a lot of those people I am collaborating with! Skerik, Delvon, Medeski and Martin of MMW, Ray and Russ from Soule Monde and Trey’s Band. I would like to be included on some tours. Play more festivals and reach more people. I would love to play with some established bands, so I can just focus on the music. I am blessed. It is just about how I can share the music and learn more.
What’s the live music scene like in Seattle in 2023?
Amazing. Great players are collaborating. I am a little outside the bubble these days, just focused on composing and recording.
What’s your dream venue to play?
Red Rocks.
Other than music, what are you passionate about?
I am passionate about nature, animals, family structures, and kids and their brilliant, playful ways. I am passionate about spirituality and improving myself, and taking care of my health.
What changes would you like to see in the music business?
I would like to see a massive change in the industry so the tech field could include artists in the money that is earned. I would love to make a new record label or model that artists can make a living off of. As well, a lot of the services a label used to provide or that an artist would like to use are too expensive. I would like to see music more respected, and artists helped more.
How do you feel about how the internet plays a role in today’s music business?
You get more distribution, but it is too saturated. It seems like we are all still figuring it out. I think it’s an amazing tool, but people have been conditioned to think music is free. That is not really fair.
What would it be if you could choose one thing for fans to take away from your music?
LOVE.
What is your favourite song to play live?
Any song, really, whatever song I am playing.
Have you started working on your next release?
Yes, I have the next five releases roughly all finished. Excited to reach more ears, hearts and minds.
FVMusicBlog April 2023
https://www.arijoshua.com
https://www.facebook.com/arijoshua/
https://twitter.com/arijoshuamusic
https://www.instagram.com/arijoshualovesyou/